Conditioning fluids

ABSTRACT

In a fluid-conditioning apparatus having a fluid conditioner, having an axial flow passage between an axial inlet, an axial outlet, a nozzle mounted axially in this flow passage, and a nozzle mounted radially of the flow passage defining a radial inlet to the flow passage, the improvement comprising a fluid preconditioner comprising a structure defining a fluid source in communication with the inlet end of the radially mounted nozzle of the conditioner providing the fluid supply to this nozzle, the source-defining structure having a fluid inlet, and a fluidsupply nozzle mounted in the source inlet to supply fluid therethrough to the source, the fluid supply nozzle comprising a body defining an axial flow passage having inlet and outlet ends and an even plurality of radial orifices into this passage between its ends, with the radial orifices arranged in coaxial pairs 180* apart.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Nathaniel Hughes lieverly Hills, Calif. [21] Appl. No. 17,484 [22] Filed Mar. 9, 1970 [45] Patented Oct. 19, 1971 [73] Assignee Energy Sciences Incorporated El Segundo, Calif.

[54] CONDITIONING FLUIDS 18 Claims, 12 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 137/599, 137/604, 259/4 [51] Int. Cl B0lf 5/02 [50] Field of Search 137/599, 604; 251/4; 261/1 18; 239/102, 419, 419.3, 419.5, 426, 427, 427.3, 427.5, 431

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,232,921 7/1917 Hicks 239/4275 X 3,207,484 9/1965 Rubin 259/4 3,219,483 11/1965 Goosetal 3,391,908 7/1968 MacDonald Primary ExaminerRobert G. Nilson Attorney-William W. Rymer ABSTRACT: In a fluid-conditioning apparatus having a fluid conditioner, having an axial flow passage between an axial inlet, an axial outlet, a nozzle mounted axially in this flow passage, and a nozzle mounted radially of the flow passage defining a radial inlet to the flow passage, the improvement comprising a fluid preconditioner comprising a structure defining a fluid source in communication with the inlet end of the' radially mounted nozzle of the conditioner providing the fluid supply to this nozzle, the source-defining structure having a fluid inlet, and a fluid-supply nozzle mounted in the source inlet to supply fluid therethrough to the source, the fluid supply nozzle comprising a body defining an axial flow passage having inlet and outlet ends and an even plurality of radial orifices into this passage between its ends, with the radial orifices arranged in coaxial pairs 180apart.

PATENTEDum 19 I9?! sum 20F 4 PATENTEDUT 19 197i SHEET 3 BF 4 TIT" CONDITIONING FLUIDS This invention relates to conditioning of gases and liquids, e.g., for mixing or reaction, such as combustion.

A primary object of the invention is to enhance the directly useable energy in gas streams (e.g., for mixing and atomization) with simple devices that can be simply and efficiently utilized in a wide variety of physical process. Another object is to enhance this energy with little or no addition of material to the gas stream. Other objects are to improve fuel economy and efficiency of internal combustion engines, and to reduce the emission therefrom of incompletely combusted substances.

The invention features, in a fluid-conditioning apparatus comprising a fluid conditioner, the conditioner having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and comprising a body defining an axial flow passage having inlet and outlet ends, the outlet end communicating with the fluid outlet, and at least one radial orifice into the passage between these ends, an axially mounted nozzle comprising a body defining an axial flow passage having inlet and outlet ends, and an even plurality of radial orifices into this axial flow passage between these ends, the radial orifices being arranged in coaxial pairs 180 apart, the axially mounted nozzle being mounted within the axial flow passage through the conditioner between said inlet and said radial orifice of said conditioner, with the axial flow passage through the nozzle arranged in parallel with the axial passage through the conditioner and this nozzle outlet facing the conditioner outlet, and a radially mounted nozzle comprising a body defining an axial flow passage having inlet and outlet ends, and an even plurality of radial orifices into this nozzle passage between the ends, these orifices being arranged in coaxial pairs 180 apart, this radially mounted nozzle mounted in a radial orifice of said conditioner with its outlet end communicating with the axial flow passage through the conditioner to define the flow path into the conditioner through its radial orifice, the improvement wherein said apparatus includes a fluid preconditioner comprising a structure defining a fluid source in communication with the inlet end of the radially mounted nozzle of the conditioner providing the fluid supply to this nozzle, the source-defining structure having a fluid inlet, and a fluid-supply nozzle mounted in the source inlet to supply fluid therethrough to the source, the fluid-supply nozzle comprising a body defining an axial flow passage having inlet and outlet ends and an even plurality of radial orifices into this passage between its ends, with the radial orifices arranged in coaxial pairs 180 apart. In one preferred embodiment, the fluidsupply nozzle has its axial flow passage radial to the axial flow passage of the conditioner, and perpendicular to the axial flow passages of the conditioners radially mounted nozzles (e.g., 90 apart from each of two 180 spaced apart radially mounted nozzles); and, the fluid-supply nozzle is mounted in a radial orifice of a cylindrical member which defines, with the outer surface of the conditioner body, an annular fluid source all of the fluid outlets of which are radial inlets to'the axial flow passage of the conditioner. In another preferred embodiment, the fluid source is also in communication with the axial inlet to the conditioner and therethrough with the inlet of the conditioners axially mounted nozzle, and the fluid source inlet and the fluid source nozzle mounted therein are upstream of the conditioner inlet and coaxial with axial flow passages of the conditioner and of its axially mounted nozzle; and, the fluid source is defined by a cylindrical member concentric with a cylindrical conditioner body, and having an upstream end wall containing said fluid source inlet spaced upstream of the end wall of the conditioner, the cylindrical member and conditioner body defining therebetween a fluid source all outlets of which are into the axial flow passage of said conditioner. In the preferred embodiments, the fluidsupply nozzle is mounted in a tube the inner wall of which defines with the body of the nozzle an annular passage surrounding the nozzle and communicating with its radial orifices; the tube has an end wall portion defining concentric successive axial inlets of increasing cross-sectional area from outermost to innermost; the body of the nozzle includes a portion defining inlets of area less than that of the axial flow passage of the nozzle; the nozzle has four radial orifices spaced apart and the nozzle body has a countersink at the outlet end of the axial flow passage; the fluid-conditioning apparatus is mounted in an internal combustion engine to pass fluid passing therethrough (some or all of which is from a fluid reservoir with the engine) to the manifold of the engine to improve combustion of substances in the engine; and, the fluidconditioning apparatus is mounted in the airline of a paint sprayer to improve paint atomization downstream of the apparatus.

Other objects, features, and advantages will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, taken together with the attached drawings thereof in which:

FIG. I is an elevational view, partially broken away, of one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the embodiment of FIG. I with the hose and clamp removed from that end;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view, partially broken away, of a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the device of FIG. 3 along line 4-4 thereof, one nozzle being shown in plan and one in section;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are enlarged perspective views of a nozzle employed in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view, partially broken away, of one end of the device of FIG. 3, with the radially mounted nozzles removed;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view, partially broken away, of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 and 10 are sectional views of the embodiment of FIG. 8, along lines 9-9 and l0l0, respectively;

FIG. 11 is an elevational view, partially broken away, of another embodiment of the present invention; partially FIG. 12 is an exploded view of one end of the embodiment of FIG. 1 1.

FIGS. l-7 show a fluid-conditioning apparatus 10 including a fluid conditioner member 12 and a fluid preconditioner 13 including cylindrical tube 14, having a radial bore 16 in which is press fit a tubular fluid-supply cell 18. Member 12 includes a cylindrical tube 20, the outer surface 22 of which defines, with the inner surface 24 of cylindrical tube 14, an annular passage 26. Annular end caps 28, 30 are located in counterbores 32, 34 respectively, of cylindrical tube 14, each end of tube 14 being roll swaged about the outer wall of the respective end cap, as shown in FIG. I, to form an airtight fit.

Cylindrical tube 20 (outer diameter 1 inch, inner diameter 0.870 inch) has an inlet portion 153 (FIG. 7), and is secured at its inlet-end to a first hose I54 (e.g., a return line for returning incompletely combusted substances, such as oil droplets, to the manifold of an internal combustion engine for combustion) and at its outlet end to a second hose 155 (leading to the manifold) by protuberances 156 and clamps I58. Tube 20 includes an axial inlet 159 (diameter 0.3 l 2 inch) through inlet cap 160 and an identically sized axial outlet 161 through outlet cap 162. Caps 160, 162 are tightly fitted in counterbores 163, 164, respectively, of tube 152 which are swaged about the outer walls of the end caps, as shown in FIG. 3. Tubular cells 166 are located 180 apart in opposed radial bores 168 in tube 152 to define a first radial air inlet zone, whereas tubular cells 167 are located 180 apart in opposed radial bores 1.69 in tube 152 to define a second radial air inlet zone.

Each cell 18, 166, 167 has an outer cylindrical wall 170 (outer diameter 0.528 inch), including a reduced outer diameter (0.525 inch) cylindrical portion I7I (0.100 inch long), for indexing each cell into a bore 16,168 or 169, for subsequent press fitting therein. Inner wall 172 (diameter 0.431 inch) has a counterbore I74 (diameter 0.470 inch) and an identical nozzle I77, 178, 179 is mounted in each cell 18, 166, I67. respectively, with flange 180 (outer diameter 0.468 inch) secured in counterbore 174 by swagging of the end of the wall forming counterbore 174.

Each nozzle 178 has a cylindrical wall 62 (outside diameter 0.346 inch, inside diameter 0.260 inch) open at its outlet end across 45countersink 64, which is surrounded by flange 180. Axial inlet 68 (diameter 0.177 inch) in end wall 69 is concentric with an imaginery circle containing the centers of eight equally spaced holes 70 (each of diameter 0.0315 inch). Four radial holes 72 (each of diameter 0.093 inch) in wall 62 have coplanar axes spaced 90. Each tubular cell 18, 166, 167 includes a stepped inlet coaxial with inlet 68 to nozzles 177, 178, 179 and formed of an inner inlet hole 181 (diameter 0.345 inch), and an outer inlet hole in end wall 183, outer inlet hole 182 to cells 166 having a diameter of 0.093 inch and outer inlet hole 184 to cells 18 and 167 having a diameter of 0.125 inch.

Tubular cell 186, which is identical to tubular cell 167, and contains a nozzle 188 identical with nozzle 178, is tightly secured in a central opening 189 of mounting plate 190, which has arcuate air passages 192, and is seated in counterbore 163, being spaced therein from end cap 160 by spacer ring 193.

Additional dimensions of the assembly are:

Length ol'cell 18, 166 or 167 between downstream l'ace ofwall 183 and upstream face of counterbore 174 0.267"

Length of nozzle 178 between wall 69 and countersink 64 0.221"

Depth of countersink 64 0.029"

Length of tube 20 1.875"

Length of counterbore 163 0.422"

Length of counterbore 164 0056" Distance between center of radial bore 168 and outer edge of counterbore 164 0.400"

Distance between center of radial bore 169 and center of radial bore 168 0615" Length of tube 14 1.695"

In operation, under subatmospheric pressure from the manifold, an oil dropletair mixture is drawn from hose 154 into tube 20 through axial inlet 159, and through cell 186 and mounting plate openings 192. At the same time atmospheric air is drawn 'through cell 18 into annular passage 26, and therefrom into and through cells 166, 167 at right angles to the oil-air flow form inlet 159. The combined flow exits to a suitable manifold.

The air/fuel mixture then passes to the engine for combustion which has been found to be more complete, with less exhaust emission of pollutants such as carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide, than when the same engine carburetor is operated under the same conditions but without the nozzles. For example, a 1970 Pontiac showed a reduction in emissions from 1.14 percent to 0.58 percent CO, and from 1,204 ppm. to 713 p.p.m. NO when equipped with the fluid-conditioning device of FIGS. 1-7 and tested in accordance with the seven mode cycle Test Procedures for Vehicle Exhaust Emissions specified by the State of California Air Resources Board.

Referring to FIG. 8-10, fluid-conditioning apparatus 200 includes a fluid conditioner member 201, identical to fluidconditioner member 12 except that inlet cap 160 and outlet cap 162 of member 12 have been replaced by inlet cap 202 'and outlet cap 204 in member 201. lnlet cap 202 includes an axial inlet 206 (diameter 0.312 inch), and is tightly fitted in counterbore 163 of tube 20, which is swaged about the outer wall of inlet cap 202. Outlet cap 204 includes a portion 210 tightly fitted in counterbore 164 of tube 20, which is swaged about the outer wall of portion 210, a tubular portion 212, a circular plate 214, and an outlet tube 216, an outlet passage 218 (diameter 0.312 inch) extending axially along the entire width of outlet cap 204.

Cylindrical tube 220 includes a counterbore 222 in which is tightly secured plate 214, the tube being roll swaged about the outer peripheral wall of plate 214 in an airtight fit. An inlet structure 223 includes a circular plate 224, which is tightly secured in counterbore 226 of tube 220, the tube being roll swaged about the outer peripheral wall of plate 224 in an airtight fit. A projecting portion 228 has a partially threaded bore 229 into which is screwed a tubular fluid-supply cell 230 having a threaded portion 232. Cell 230 is otherwise identical to cell 167 and contains a nozzle 234 identical to nozzle 178. An inlet passage 236 (diameter 0.312 inch) extends through inlet tube 238 and the end wall 239 of portion 228, and is coaxial with the inlet 184 to cell 230, and the inlet 184 of cell 186. Tubes 216 and 238 have protuberances 156 to which a hose may be clamped in the manner previously shown in FIG. 1 and In operation, in an internal combustion engine, with inlet tube 238 in communication with a return line as previously described and outlet tube 216 in communication with the engine manifold, the air-oil-dropletmixture is drawn through fluid-supply cell 230 into the interior of tube 220, and thence through one of cells 166, 167 or through opening 206 and thence through cell 186 and mounting plate openings 192. The combined flow then exits to a suitable manifold. Again, combustion of the air/fuel mixture in the engine is more complete, with less exhaust emission of pollutants than when the same engine carburetor is operated under the same conditions but without the nozzles. For example, a 1970 Pontiac showed a 10 to 1 reduction in CO emissions, a 2 to 1 reduction in hydrocarbon emissions, and a 40 percent reduction in NO emissions when tested in accordance with the above described seven-mode cycle Test Procedure, with the openings 182 and 184 to cells 166, 167, 186, and 230 all being 0.172 inch.

In addition, since no additional fluids are added to the carburetor, the device of FIGS. 8 to 10 may be retrofit onto existing carburetors without having to adjust the fuel-air ratio to the carburetor.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a fluid-conditioning apparatus 300 including a fluid conditioner member 30], identical to fluid conditioner member 201 in FIG. 8, except for outlet cap 304, and a cylindrical tube 320, identical to cylindrical tube 220, except that counterbores 321, 322 are of greater width than counterbores 222 and 226, and are threaded. Outlet cap 304 includes a portion 324 tightly fitted in counterbore 164 of tube 20, which is swaged about the outer peripheral surface of portion 324, an intermediate annular portion 326 of decreased outer diameter, having parallel squared-off sides 328, and a threaded annular head 330, terminating in 45 countersink 332. Outlet cap 304 has an axial passage 333 (0.312 inch diameter) therethrough. Outlet structure 334 includes a threaded annular plate 336 threadedly engaged in counterbore 321, and an annular head 338 having parallel squared-off sides 340. A first bore 342 is partially threaded to threadedly engage outlet cap head 330, and a counterbore 344 is also threaded. Connector 346 includes an annular flange 348 having an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of bore 342, is received in the unthreaded portion of bore 342, and is secured therein between outlet cap 304 and the annular shoulder 350 between bore 342 and counterbore 344. Connector head 352 has a 45 tapered outer wall 354, and axial passage 356 (diameter 0.312 inch) extends through connector 346 and is aligned with passage 333 through outlet cap 304.

lnlet structure 360 includes an annular plate 362 having a threaded outer surface 364 threadedly engaged in counterbore 322 of tube 320, and has a threaded inner bore 365 extending through plate 362 and head 366, for receiving a tubular fluid-supply cell 368, which is identical to cell 230 of FIG. 8, and contains a nozzle 369 identical to nozzle 178. Head 366 has a threaded outer surface 370 of equal pitch and diameter threads with that of threaded counterbore 344.

In operation, fluid-conditioning device 300 is inserted in the airline of a conventional paint sprayer, so that air to be mixed with paint for paint atomization in a convention paint sprayer is preenergized by passage through device 300. The airline is simply screwed into the counterbore 344 and threaded head 370 then is screwed into the previous airline connector. Finer paint atomization is thereby achieved using far lower air pressures than conventional paint sprayers (down to about l-2 p.s.i.a.), resulting in rapidly and uniformly applied painted surfaces.

Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are within the following claims.

1. In a fluid-conditioning apparatus comprising a fluid conditioner, said conditioner having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and comprising a body defining an axial flow passage having inlet and outlet ends, said outlet end communicating with said fluid outlet, and at least one radial orifice into said passage between said ends,

an axially mounted nozzle comprising a body defining an axial flow passage having inlet and outlet ends, and an even plurality of radial orifices into said passage between said ends, said orifices being arranged in coaxial pairs 1 80 apart,

said nozzle mounted within the said axial flow passage through said conditioner between said inlet and said radial orifice of said conditioner, with the axial flow passage through said nozzle arranged in parallel with the axial passage through said'conditioner, and said nozzle outlet facing said conditioner outlet, and

a radially mounted nozzle comprising a body defining an axial flow passage having inlet and outlet ends, and an even plurality of radial orifices into said passage between said ends, said orifices being arranged in coaxial pairs 180 apart,

said radially mounted nozzle mounted in a radial orifice of said conditioner with said outlet end communicating with the axial flow passage through said conditioner to define the flow path into said conditioner through said radial orifice,

a fluid preconditioner comprising structure defining a fluid source in communication with the inlet end of said radially mounted nozzle providing the fluid supply to said nozzle, said source-defining structure having a fluid inlet, and

a fluid supply nozzle mounted in said source inlet to supply fluid therethrough to said source, said fluid-supply nozzle comprising a body defining an axial flow passage having inlet and outlet ends and an even plurality of radial orifices into said passage between said ends, said orifices being arranged in coaxial pairs 180 apart.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the axial flow passage of said fluid-supply nozzle is arranged radially of the axial flow of said conditioner body. I

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the axial flow passage of said fluid-supply nozzle is arranged perpendicularly of the axial flow passage through said radially mounted nozzle.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said conditioner body includes at least one radial air inlet zone defined by a pair of said radial orifices, 180 spaced apart and coaxial, into said axial passage between said ends, said conditioner includes one said radially mounted nozzle in each said radial orifice, and said fluid-supply nozzle is 90 spaced apart from each of said radially mounted nozzles.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein said source-defining structure comprises a cylindrical member having a radial fluid inlet, and defining, with the outer surface of said conditioner body, an annular fluid source having fluid outlets, all of said fluid outlets being radial orifices into the said axial flow passage of said conditioner.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fluid-supply nozzle is mounted in a tube the inner wall of which defines with the body of said nozzle an annular passage surrounding said nozzle and communicating with the said-orifices of said nozzle, and the end wall portion of which defines an axial inlet to said nozzle.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said end wall portion defines concentric successive axial inlets of increasing crosssectional area from the outermost to the innermost said inlet.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the said body of said nozzle includes a portion defining an inlet of area less than that of said axial flow passage directly downstream of said inlet, and said passage is a counterbore to said inlet.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said portion provides openings into said passage radially outwardly of said inlet, there are four of said radial orifices spaced apart, and said body has a countersink at the outlet end of said passage.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said openings are circular holes arranged in a ring, the area of said inlet differs from the total area of said radial orifices by no more than half the area of any one said radial orifice, said orifices are tangent to said countersink, and said nozzle has a flange at its outlet end and is mounted in a tube to define an annular passage surrounding said nozzle and communicating with said radial orifices, said tube having an inlet opening to said nozzle.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fluid source is also in communication with the inlet end of said axially mounted nozzle, and said source inlet is located upstream of said conditioner body and is coaxial with the axial flow passage defined by said conditioner body, and said fluidsupply nozzle is mounted in said source inlet with the axial flow passage through said nozzle in parallel with the axial flow passage through said axially mounted nozzle.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said conditioner body includes an inlet portion at said inlet end defining an axial inlet to the axial flow passage of said body, and said source inlet is spaced upstream of said inlet portion.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the axial inlet to said conditioner body is spaced upstream of the axial inlet to the axially mounted nozzle in said conditioner.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the axial inlet of said fluid source nozzle, said conditioner body, and said axially mounted nozzle are coaxial.

15. The apparatus of claim ll including an outlet portion at said outlet end of said conditioner body defining an axial outlet from the axial passage of said body, said outlet portion arranged to seal said axial outlet from said fluid source.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said conditioner body includes at least one radial air inlet zone, in communication with said fluid source, defined by a plurality of radial orifices having coplanar axes, into said axial passage between said ends and equally spaced around the periphery of said passage.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said conditioner body and said fluid source are defined by concentric cylindrical members, the inner cylindrical member defining said conditioner body and having an upstream end wall including the said axial inlet to said body, and the outer cylindrical member defining said fluid source and having an upstream end wall which includes said fluid inlet and which is spaced upstream of the said upstream end wall of said inner cylindrical member, the inner wall of said outer cylindrical member defining with the outer fluid wall of said inner cylindrical member an annular passage communicating with the inlet of said radially mounted nozzle.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the axial inlet to said fluid-supply nozzle has a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the said axial inlet to said device. 

1. In a fluid-conditioning apparatus comprising a fluid conditioner, said conditioner having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and comprising a body defining an axial flow passage having inlet and outlet ends, said outlet end communicating with said fluid outlet, and at least one radial orifice into said passage between said ends, an axially mounted nozzle comprising a body defining an axial flow passage having inlet and outlet ends, and an even plurality of radial orifices into said passage between said ends, said orifices being arranged in coaxial pairs 180* apart, said nozzle mounted within the said axial flow passage through said conditioner between said inlet and said radial orifice of said conditioner, with the axial flow passage through said nozzle arranged in parallel with the axial passage through said conditioner, and said nozzle outlet facing said conditioner outlet, and a radially mounted nozzle comprising a body defining an axial flow passage having inlet and outlet ends, and an even plurality of radial orifices into said passage between said ends, said orifices being arranged in coaxial pairs 180* apart, said radiAlly mounted nozzle mounted in a radial orifice of said conditioner with said outlet end communicating with the axial flow passage through said conditioner to define the flow path into said conditioner through said radial orifice, a fluid preconditioner comprising structure defining a fluid source in communication with the inlet end of said radially mounted nozzle providing the fluid supply to said nozzle, said source-defining structure having a fluid inlet, and a fluid supply nozzle mounted in said source inlet to supply fluid therethrough to said source, said fluid-supply nozzle comprising a body defining an axial flow passage having inlet and outlet ends and an even plurality of radial orifices into said passage between said ends, said orifices being arranged in coaxial pairs 180* apart.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the axial flow passage of said fluid-supply nozzle is arranged radially of the axial flow of said conditioner body.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the axial flow passage of said fluid-supply nozzle is arranged perpendicularly of the axial flow passage through said radially mounted nozzle.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said conditioner body includes at least one radial air inlet zone defined by a pair of said radial orifices, 180* spaced apart and coaxial, into said axial passage between said ends, said conditioner includes one said radially mounted nozzle in each said radial orifice, and said fluid-supply nozzle is 90* spaced apart from each of said radially mounted nozzles.
 5. The device of claim 2 wherein said source-defining structure comprises a cylindrical member having a radial fluid inlet, and defining, with the outer surface of said conditioner body, an annular fluid source having fluid outlets, all of said fluid outlets being radial orifices into the said axial flow passage of said conditioner.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fluid-supply nozzle is mounted in a tube the inner wall of which defines with the body of said nozzle an annular passage surrounding said nozzle and communicating with the said orifices of said nozzle, and the end wall portion of which defines an axial inlet to said nozzle.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said end wall portion defines concentric successive axial inlets of increasing cross-sectional area from the outermost to the innermost said inlet.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the said body of said nozzle includes a portion defining an inlet of area less than that of said axial flow passage directly downstream of said inlet, and said passage is a counterbore to said inlet.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said portion provides openings into said passage radially outwardly of said inlet, there are four of said radial orifices spaced 90* apart, and said body has a countersink at the outlet end of said passage.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said openings are circular holes arranged in a ring, the area of said inlet differs from the total area of said radial orifices by no more than half the area of any one said radial orifice, said orifices are tangent to said countersink, and said nozzle has a flange at its outlet end and is mounted in a tube to define an annular passage surrounding said nozzle and communicating with said radial orifices, said tube having an inlet opening to said nozzle.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fluid source is also in communication with the inlet end of said axially mounted nozzle, and said source inlet is located upstream of said conditioner body and is coaxial with the axial flow passage defined by said conditioner body, and said fluid-supply nozzle is mounted in said source inlet with the axial flow passage through said nozzle in parallel with the axial flow passage through said axially mounted nozzle.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said conditioner body includes an inlet portion at said inlet end defining an axial inlet to the axial flow passage of saiD body, and said source inlet is spaced upstream of said inlet portion.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the axial inlet to said conditioner body is spaced upstream of the axial inlet to the axially mounted nozzle in said conditioner.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the axial inlet of said fluid source nozzle, said conditioner body, and said axially mounted nozzle are coaxial.
 15. The apparatus of claim 11 including an outlet portion at said outlet end of said conditioner body defining an axial outlet from the axial passage of said body, said outlet portion arranged to seal said axial outlet from said fluid source.
 16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said conditioner body includes at least one radial air inlet zone, in communication with said fluid source, defined by a plurality of radial orifices having coplanar axes, into said axial passage between said ends and equally spaced around the periphery of said passage.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said conditioner body and said fluid source are defined by concentric cylindrical members, the inner cylindrical member defining said conditioner body and having an upstream end wall including the said axial inlet to said body, and the outer cylindrical member defining said fluid source and having an upstream end wall which includes said fluid inlet and which is spaced upstream of the said upstream end wall of said inner cylindrical member, the inner wall of said outer cylindrical member defining with the outer fluid wall of said inner cylindrical member an annular passage communicating with the inlet of said radially mounted nozzle.
 18. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the axial inlet to said fluid-supply nozzle has a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the said axial inlet to said device. 